Jags Handle Punchless Bucs

NFL

Jacksonville Won 14-6 Against A Tampa Bay Team That Failed To Score A Touchdown.

August 21, 2004|By Chris Harry, Sentinel Staff Writer

JACKSONVILLE -- When the first quarter of Friday night's game ended, the press box at Alltel Stadium erupted into applause.

Yes, applause.

In the press box.

Knowing that one-fourth of this preseason mess was over was big relief to those who came to see the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play an exhibition for the ages.

The Stone Ages.

"I've not been in a game quite like this," Bucs Coach Jon Gruden said.

He probably hopes he never is again.

Reserve running back Rich Alexis scored on a 1-yard run and third-team quarterback Quinn Gray tossed a 48-yard touchdown to wide receiver Matthew Hatchette to push the Jags to an ugly 14-6 victory in front of crowd of 50,021.

Neither team reported any injuries, but the game was painful to watch.

Playing its second exhibition in five days, Tampa Bay looked sluggish in gaining one measly yard on its initial five possessions, the first three manned by the front-line offense. The Bucs finished the half with 21 yards on 19 plays and no first downs.

"That's a first for me," Gruden said of the abysmal latter statistic.

Jacksonville had far better numbers, including 233 yards of offense through two periods. But the four series belonging to second-year quarterback Byron Leftwich in the first quarter ended with an interception on the goal line and three missed field goals -- by Jeff Chandler (from 49 and 42) and Josh Scobee (45).

"We were close to making some really good things happen," said Jags Coach Jack Del Rio, who thought he had a 33-yard touchdown strike from Leftwich to Jimmy Smith, but the back judge ruled that Smith did not maintain control of the ball falling out of the end zone. "We missed some scoring opportunities, but I saw some good things out there."

The play of his defense was the most encouraging. For the game, Jacksonville limited Tampa Bay to 152 total yards and 2-for-14 on third downs.

"We wanted to start fast, and that's exactly what we did," Jacksonville defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. "It's been emphasized by a lot of our coaches this year that we need to start fast. Last year, we started games slow and finished slow. This year, we want to come and set the tone."

It took backup quarterback David Garrard to finally finish a drive for the Jacksonville offense. He moved the Jags 62 yards in 14 plays, converting a trio of third downs, to set up the scoring blast by Alexis with 1:55 to go before halftime.

It was 14-0 after the first possession of the second half. Gray, a first-year free agent from Florida A&M, hit Jermaine Lewis for 16 yards on third-and-6, then three plays later scrambled to his left and saw Hatchette race past Bucs safety Scott Frost. Gray lofted a perfect touch pass that Hatchette took in stride and skated untouched into the end zone.

Tampa Bay No. 1 quarterback Brad Johnson went 2-for-5 for eight yards -- 6 coming on the first reception by former Oakland Raider Tim Brown -- with an interception on a batted ball the first play of the game. First reliever Brian Griese was 2-for-7 for 8 more yards.

"We never could get any momentum going," Johnson said.

Second-year pro Chris Simms, who had a solid outing in playing from No. 2 in Monday's home win against Cincinnati, was the only Tampa Bay quarterback to move his team. Simms, who started the second half, hit five of his first eight attempts for 40 yards.

The Bucs got a 43-yard field goal from Martin Gramatica, thus preventing a shutout that both teams probably deserved.

Gramatica added 44-yarder with 1:09 to play in the game, making the score 14-6. The Jags recovered the ensuing onside kick.

But, keeping with the evening's theme, Alexis fumbled three plays later and Tampa Bay rookie safety Will Hunter recovered with 49 seconds left.

The Bucs gained seven yards in four plays.

Fitting.

"Sometimes it's good for a team to go through a night like this," Johnson said. "Unfortunately, it had to be us."